Fans of the BBC's new 'comedy' murder mystery series Ludwig are celebrating after it was announced David Mitchell's reluctant detective will be back to solve another set of crimes.

The news has been officially confirmed by the BBC, with the broadcaster also confirming that Ludwig has become its biggest new scripted show since 2022, attracting over 9.5 million viewers across 28 days.

As expected, David Mitchell will return as John 'Ludwig' Taylor, while Anna Maxwell Martin will also be back as his sister-in-law, Lucy Betts-Taylor.

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David Mitchell was born in Headington and was a pupil at Abingdon School, before going to university at Oxford University's New College.

Ludwig creator Mark Brotherhood will be back to write the new episodes, while the rest of the cast list for season 2 has yet to be confirmed.

Mr Mitchell said of returning for season 2: "I’m delighted that John 'Ludwig' Taylor has failed to escape the clutches of the Cambridge police and will have to continue to face up to the city’s alarming conundrum-based crime wave."

Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy Commissioning said: "The blend of top-tier British comic talent, a gripping mystery, and brilliantly crafted crime storylines had viewers hooked from day one.

(Image: BBC/Big Talk/Colin Hutton) "We had high hopes for Ludwig, and it’s safe to say this comedy-detective series with a twist has become a true standout.

"We can’t thank Mark Brotherhood, David Mitchell, Anna Maxwell Martin, and the entire cast and crew enough for creating something so special.

"We’re eagerly awaiting series two, though it’s a bit of a shame we’ll have to spoil the surprises for ourselves by actually reading the scripts first!"

The final episode of the first season has aired on BBC One, after the series debuted as a box set on the day episode 1 aired.

(Image: BBC/Big Talk/Colin Hutton) The finale saw John finally revealing his true identity to his colleagues, who had believed him to be his brother James.

In the end, he was absolved of his identity theft, and was given an official role as a consultant, while he continued to investigate his brother's disappearance in his spare time.

Ludwig season 2 will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at a date to be revealed.

Some viewers have likened the new series to long-running British crime drama Jonathan Creek.

One viewer said on X, formerly Twitter: "Ludwig is the Jonathan Creek for a new generation. It's all about formula and logic.

"It's so simple and absolutely brilliant. Love it," while another said that Ludwig "has a distinct Jonathan Creek vibe".

Another viewer added: "Watched episodes 1 and 2 of Ludwig and agree David Mitchell is terrific. But so is Anna Maxwell Martin, who has brilliant timing and delivery, and supporting cast was excellent as well."

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

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